Kimmince fires as Heat miss out on first finals

THE inaugural Women's Big Bash League finished on a bitter note for the Brisbane Heat after they failed to make the semi-finals of the 20-over competition in what has been a landmark year for women in cricket.

Brisbane finished sixth and missed out on a place in the finals due to an inferior net run rate, with Perth clinching fourth spot with a win over the Melbourne Renegades on Sunday.

The Heat fell just short of the 140 run target set by Adelaide Strikers in their final game on Saturday but it was captain and Warwick product Delissa Kimmince who shone making 33 of 12 balls.

Kimmince, coming in at No.5, steadied the ship after both Heat openers only made a single run between them as they began their run chase in dismal fashion.

Kimmince made an immediate impact by upping the tempo of the Heat's innings as well as their sluggish run rate.

With four fours and two sixes in her innings, Kimmince slogged her team back in to the game, making the boundary every other ball.

Proving to be the most entertaining of the Heat's hitters, the Strikers had no answer for Kimmince as she set up a partnership at the crease with Jess Jonassen, who survived the innings against the Strikers' bowling attack, as they tries to chase down 140 with wickets still in hand.

After making light work of the Strikers bowlers, her exciting innings were cut short when she was caught out on 33.

Her whirlwind innings was not enough to win for the Heat though as they bowed out and missed the chance to make the finals of the WBBL in its landmark first year by just six runs.

Needing a six from the final ball to tie the match proved a feat too far for the Heat who recovered well from a poor start with the bat to come agonisingly close to a spot in the semi-final.